It has already been a little over a week since I lined up with athletes from all over the world to race the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, but I’m still basking in the afterglow. I can’t believe that between pregnancy and parenthood, it has been nearly two years since my last triathlon. Although I felt a little rusty and would have liked more time to practice transitions and do more open water swims, I was feeling confident and excited to toe the water of my first race of the season. If you would have asked me a few weeks ago what my plan was for this race, I probably would have eagerly provided a list of 10 goals in order of importance. That’s just the way my mind works when it comes to working hard toward any big event.

But after getting hit by a car while riding my bike less than two weeks before the race my goals became a little less finite. As I was lying in the ambulance, I remember thinking to myself, “I guess I won’t be racing next weekend.” Well that, and telling one of the (cute) paramedics that I wasn’t wearing any underwear when he mentioned the fact they would probably have to cut off my cycling kit. Knowing that my body was beat up, my psyche was muddled, and my tt bike was totaled, I thought it would take a while to pick back up and feel like myself again.

But then something happened when I walked out of the emergency room with only road rash, bruises, achy muscles, and a bag of shredded cycling clothes. I began to think of the possibilities. Maybe I could actually pull this off. Maybe I could get back on a bike and face the fear of being on the road. Maybe my body would bounce back. Maybe I can get another bike quickly. As all these ‘maybes’ began to spring around in my head, I realized I was given another chance. No major injuries. Not at fault. And loads of support and encouragement from everyone around me. Even if I did not have a single goal or expectation going into this race, I would still get to race.

With my Ironman only eight weeks away, I knew I needed to get a long course race under my belt early in the season, and the 70.3 distance in Coeur d’Alene would give me the perfect opportunity to preview the course for the full Ironman (this really is the perfect combo for anyone considering). As usual, my coach did a great job of providing encouragement and hope when I was feeling down about my crash, and gave me the push I needed to get back on the bike quickly and without fear. Better sooner than later, he said. My husband was also extremely supportive and helpful, cleaning and bandaging my wounds, assisting me with the bike buying process, and helping out with Axel so I could prep for the race. We truly make a good team.

The week leading up to the race was a whirlwind and good reminder that triathlon is anything but an individual sport. It took an army of people to get me back in the game and race ready. I would not have stepped foot in Lake Coeur d’Alene without the endless support of those around me. I was able to purchase a new bike and have it two–day shipped to The Hub Cyclery, where Matt (one of the owners) graciously spent the next two days building it up and getting it ready to race. I was also able to get a bike fit from Bart and Cody at Bowen Performance to assure I would be as comfortable, powerful, and aerodynamic as possible on the bike. All of these people went above the call of duty and made time in their schedules to assure that I would have a bike to race with on Sunday. They made this possible. A friend and fellow athlete, Hans, also hooked me up with a great hydration system using his TorHans aero products. These products are absolutely amazing and some of the most aerodynamic on the market.

I ended up purchasing the Felt IA 2 and was able to ride it a total of 20 easy miles in the two days before the race. It is completely different from my Cervelo P3 and will take some time getting used to, but I’m already in love. The biggest difference is the Di2 shifting (set up on both my aero bars and on the bullhorns near my brakes) and the more aggressive position. The bike itself is amazing and gives me a sense that I am floating above the pavement.

So, with a new bike, second chance, and new attitude, it was off to CdA for my first triathlon not only of the season but of almost two years. Time to put months and months of hard work to the test.

The Race:

This was the first year Ironman offered the 70.3 distance course in Coeur d’Alene, so it was fun being a part of the inaugural event. The town of CdA is absolutely beautiful and the people truly embrace the athletes and welcome them with open arms. The hospitality was second to none.

We arrived to CdA on Thursday and met up with Justin’s mom who drove in from Seattle to spend the weekend with us and visit her grandson. She was a HUGE help all weekend long and I felt as though the entire stay would not have gone as smoothly without her support. We spent Friday and Saturday hanging out, engaging in pre-race festivities, previewing the course, and visiting with friends. My mom and step-dad also arrived in town the night before the race and we visited with them briefly before heading to bed. Before I knew it the time had passed and it was the morning of the race!

The swim was a rectangular out and back loop in Lake Coeur d’Alene. This lake is notorious for choppy water and white caps, but we somehow got lucky and had smooth water on race day. Until you have 3,000 athletes stirring it up, that is. This was my first time experiencing a self-seeded rolling start, which I quite enjoyed because I was able to position myself in a corral based on my expected swim time, and everyone eased into the water in a semi-single file line. My coach wanted me to start with a group a couple minutes ahead of my goal time, which helped because ultimately I finished the swim with a PR.

The first half of the swim was pretty mellow (did I just say that?) as I stayed just inside the buoy line and did my own thing away from the masses. There was a little more chaos during the home stretch as people were bunching up, but I still maintained my groove and remained calm. I did experience some bad cramping in my calf and hamstring, but didn’t have a choice but to shrug it off and continue on. By the way, why do I have to cramp during EVERY open water swim?

Swim: 40:52T1: 4:54

Once I was out of the water it took me a second to find my balance. “YES! The hard part is over,” I thought to myself. After sprinting up the beach it was a long run on the hard pavement (ouch!) to my transition area, which made for a long transition time. As I started taking off my wetsuit, the muscles in both my legs completely seized and cramped, and it felt as though I could not move. I tried to keep calm and stretch them out while leaning on a tree that was next to my transition area (I knew that tree was put there for a reason other than to get in my way), but I couldn’t help but think about trying to bike and run when my legs were already giving me issues. I came THIS close to quitting right there, but instead chose to take a couple of deep breaths and continue on.

The bike course was rather hilly, which caters perfectly to my strengths. I enjoy climbing and descending, which comprises a majority of the course. Most of the climbs were fairly short (3-4 miles) and not steep at all. I actually felt as though there were a lot of false flats throughout the course. Although I probably could have pushed a litter harder to meet my 2:35 bike split goal, I was really trying to stay at 85% power and leave some juice in the tank for the run. Coach’s orders. And, I’m glad I listened. He is probably reading this right now, with a big grin on his face and thinking, “see what happens when you stick to the plan.”

There are three significant climbs on the bike, which also means there are some really fun descents. I have no fear of going fast on the downhill during a race and tried to be really aggressive when gravity was on my side. I do wish there would have been a little more space for riders to pass on the downhill, because as I would approach riders who were riding at a slower pace, not every rider was all the way over to the right like they should have been. I had to use my brakes and yell a few times, which was rather frustrating. I wish everyone would just stay over UNLESS passing. Ooof.

Bike: 2:40:49 (20.9mph)T2: 2:42

When I finished the bike leg I was feeling pretty good. I did a good job eating and drinking consistently throughout the ride and was sure to take a GU Roctane moments before the dismount. Again, the transition took some time, as I had to run my bike quite a ways before reaching my T2 area, which was close to the run out area. As I took off my bike shoes and slid on my Hokas (I only run in Hokas now, by the way → officially converted) my left leg got a monster cramp that crept up my calf and into my hamstring. What the heck is going on today!? Body, please don’t fail me now – I’ve still got a half marathon to get through. Once again thoughts of quitting entered my head as I started running toward the crowd of people that lined the course through the park, but then a huge smile emerged on my face as I saw my husband, mom and step-dad. Keep going.

The first mile is always the hardest for me as I shake out the bike legs and settle into the run, but I think the long run from the bike dismount to my transition area actually helped me prepare for it. I felt as though I was running a 10min/mile pace, even though my pace for the first mile was 7:27.

After sipping some water at mile 2, the liquids started to slosh around in my stomach and throat, and were not getting absorbed at all. A few minutes after taking in water I threw up (while running) but kept going. At the next aid station I tried Gatorade. Nope. Threw up again. And then again. When I saw my coach at mile 6 I told him what was going on and in true Mike Larsen fashion he said “So what? You are currently in 5th place. Keep moving and go catch the girl in the orange socks.” before suggesting that I start drinking Coke – so I did. That seemed to help, although the coke was really warm. Not to be picky, but is a nice ice-cold coke during a half Ironman too much to ask? Cue sarcasm.

The run course is two flat loops that venture through McEuen Park, around a cute neighborhood, and along the lake. It is great for spectators as they can easily see athletes multiple times. As I ventured onto the second loop I could feel the muscles in my legs starting to cramp. Honestly, I was a real mess at this point but kept my composure, as panicking would get me absolutely nowhere. I was discouraged by the fact that I had so much more in the tank but my muscles would start to tighten and cramp when I pushed harder. So, I was forced to settle in at a 7:45-8min/mile pace, finding the sweet spot where my muscles would not spaz on me. I’ve already received a lot of questions about my cramping and I believe it was a combination of dehydration (magnified by the vomiting) and not taking in enough salt. I need to start training with salt tablets ASAP or I will not survive the Ironman.

By the time I reached mile 12, I could sense the excitement building inside of me. All I wanted to do was sprint out of joy, but knew that I needed to be smart and just keep everything steady. The home stretch to the finish was unlike any I have ever experienced. People upon people upon people lined the street, and I literally lost the sound of my breathing and thoughts to the noise and cheers of the crowd. It was literally one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. I don’t think there is any other race experience like running through the roaring crowd down Sherman Ave and seeing that Ironman finishing chute get closer and closer. Just magical.

Run: 1:42:53 (7:52 min/mile)Final: 5:12:10 (3rd AG)

When I finished all I could do was smile at the volunteers and thank everyone around me. I quickly spotted my husband and gave him a sweaty kiss. We both had tears in our eyes and I was so glad he could experience that moment with me.

The guys that I train with, Adrian and Michael, had also finished around that time (Adrian actually crossed the line right in front of me) and we were all able to celebrate and get a finisher photo together. Michael finished 2nd in his AG and Adrian had a huge PR. It was all around success.

My coach was also there and I immediately started crying when I saw him – just filled with so much gratitude for how hard he has pushed me this season and knowing that it paid off big time.

And then the news came – I had finished 3rd in my age group. What the what??? Me? I was 52nd in my AG coming out of the water, and made up a lot of ground on the bike to move up to 5th place heading into the run, but at the very best I was just hoping to hold on and make it up on the podium in 5th place. But somehow I managed to pass two girls on the run and push my way into 3rd. I was, and still am, shocked!

After cooling down and taking a few post-race photos with my coach, teammates, and family, Justin and I made our way back to our rental house to clean up and check out before returning for the award ceremony. Axel was a little trooper as we dragged him around and kept him up past his normal nap time (he later slept really well in the car as we drove part of the way home that evening). When the award ceremony started, I was completely humbled by all of the talented athletes around me. Standing on that stage was truly a dream come true, and the realization of something I had envisioned since starting this journey back in November when I was still only two months removed from childbirth. I will never forget that experience, or the people who helped me get there.

This was by far one of the most spectated events I have ever been a part of, which is pretty incredible for a town on only 44,000 people. I am the type of person that thrives off the energy of the crowd, so that made a huge difference in my race. Having the chance to preview pretty much the entire course has me beyond excited to return to Coeur d’Alene in less than 7 weeks to see what I can do in my first FULL Ironman. Hopefully the circumstances leading up to that race will be less chaotic than this one, and the experience under my belt will pay off when I do it again on August 21!

I’m back! Not that I left or went anywhere special, but lately life has been busy and my priorities have left very little room for hobbies or downtime. I finally have a window of opportunity to give my blog a little attention and catch everyone up on what’s been happening this past month! Some of the highlights include:

Epic bike rides on closed roads over scenic mountain passes.

My first Mother’s Day (it was the best).

Time with family and meeting my stepsister’s 4-month-old little girl.

Introducing Axel to his great grandparents.

I got a new road bike!

After the Eugene Half Marathon, I ended up getting sick. I literally went to urgent care that evening after we returned to Bend, was diagnosed with some kind of virus, and it took me nearly a week to feel like myself again. I believe that getting sick is just another way our bodies communicate that it’s time to slow down and recover. So I spent a lot of downtime with these two handsome fellas.

Since the half marathon my running has felt a little off, both mentally and physically. I’m still covering the mileage and doing the workouts my coach prescribes, but it FEELS a lot harder. Does this ever happen to you? It’s as though after the race my legs took a hiatus and went on strike. They feel heavy and lethargic, and I’ve been struggling with consistently running between a 7 and 8 minute mile. I am chalking some of that up to the fact that I have continued to ramp up my training volume and intensity ahead of Ironman CdA 70.3 in June, but here’s hoping I can reignite the fire in my steps and find them again between now and then.

Along with this, after the race I mentally felt like I needed a small break from running. I had been doing a lot of races in March and April, and the half marathon was the tipping point that put me over the edge. Thankfully, several of my runs have been at base and endurance pace. This allows me to focus more on endurance and control, and to run with Justin and Axel on occasion.

In the meantime, I have really been enjoying life on the bike and am working hard to make huge gains in the saddle. The bike is where I can really see myself excelling this year in triathlon. Whatever time I lose in the swim (which will be several minutes) I will have to make back ten fold on the bike!

I have put my will-power and strength to the test on a few occasions lately while riding with my coach and his team of clients/athletes, all of whom are training for various events. A couple weeks ago a group of us rode up and over both sides of the McKenzie pass, one of the most difficult climbs in Oregon starting at 1500ft and climbing to over 5000ft within 20 miles.

It’s also one of the most beautiful rides I have ever done. The road is closed to vehicles in the winter, but was clear of snow and hadn’t yet re-opened to auto traffic, so we had the pavement all to ourselves. These guys provided nothing but encouragement as we weaved up and around the twisting road to the summit!

Last week was another epic climb up to Mt. Bachelor with my coach. Once again, I tested my limits and pushed hard as we rode to the ski lodge and beyond on the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Up until this past Monday the road beyond Bachelor was also closed to vehicles, so we had the road and views all to ourselves! I love when there are no vehicles on the roads and you can ride freely without worry. This road has a 10 inch shoulder, so it’s important to be cognizant of vehicles throughout the summer as traffic can be a bit crazy these days (everyone is finding out about Bend).

On Tuesday, I also showed up for my first large group ride. Ever. With a name like Hammerfest, and with a field full of current and former pro cyclists, to say that I was nervous and intimidated would be an understatement. I stuck close to my coach’s wheel the entire time, stayed with the main group until the big climb near the end, and “hammered” out 30 miles at an average pace of 22.52 miles per hour. I might even consider doing it again!

And, because my cycling has been so strong for me lately, guess who is doing her first ROAD RACE this weekend? Me. That’s right. I am stepping 100% out of my comfort zone and am doing something I said I would NEVER do. I almost just fainted typing that. Honestly, I have never had any desire to race a bike in a group setting. It scares the crap out of me. I’m okay with riding in a triathlon setting and having a comfortable space between me and other riders, but the mere thought of riding closely in a group of women puts a little fear in me. I’m just hoping I can shrug off the nerves and enjoy the experience. I’ll be racing at the Bend Don’t Brake on Saturday – wish me luck. Eek! At least I will have my favorite two cheerleaders there supporting me!

Swimming continues to be a struggle for me, both in the “I enjoy this” category and the “I’m good at this” category. I just wish something would click for me like it does for others. Three things have seemingly helped these past few weeks.

I got a small lesson and had the masters coach analyze my technique and catch. With a few adjustments and drills, my catch will hopefully provide a little more power to move me through the water.

I started breathing on my weak side. It sounds weird, but I discovered that I actually swim FASTER when I breathe on my awkward (left) side. My coach wanted me to practice bilateral breathing and as soon as I did I was 10-15seconds faster per 100meter. It is still hard for me to breathe on my left side, but this is something I am going to focus on moving forward since the results speak for themselves so far.

They removed the roof/cover and I am now able to swim outside. Just knowing I will get a little fresh air and vitamin D motivates me to get my butt to the pool when I’m not feeling it.

I’m hoping to throw on my wetsuit in the next week or two and take it out for a test swim in one of our (cold) nearby lakes. After months of swimming in the pool it will be fun to see where I am at in the open water.

Ironman CdA 70.3 is less than five weeks away, which means I will be investing time and energy into some big training days in the coming weeks before tapering for the race. I find it very invigorating to mentally prep for these big weeks and power through. These weeks are tough – but rewarding. At the same time I am entering into the final two weeks of the spring term, which means grading, emails, and exams will begin piling up and put extra time constraints on my already busy schedule. Apparently, I really didn’t think this through when I signed up for the half Ironman. Oh well, once again it’s all about doing what I can and making it work.

Honestly, because of training, work, and SAHMing, I haven’t had much of a social life lately. Womp womp. In fact, what is a social life? Haha. I guess my social life takes place during group rides and running events, which is the best I can ask for when my time is spread very thin. Thankfully I have friends who are very understanding and know what kind of commitment I am making (I think) when it comes to taking so much on at once.

Justin has been very patient with my training and helps out when he can to watch Axel, prepare meals, and do chores around the house and yard (he also built and installed two bird nest boxes, which are now inhabited by a Northern Flicker family and a House Wren family). I couldn’t do it without him. Even though we are both busy, we make it a goal to do things as a family and spend quality time together each week. It’s been both fun and challenging watching Axel experience new things as he joins Justin and I on our adventures. For example, we learned that he LOVES being in the pool, and hates car rides that are longer than 4 hours (yep, we somehow survived a 5 hour road trip a couple weeks ago). For the most part he is pretty adaptable and is very much a go-with-the-flow kind of kid. He’s nearly 30 inches tall already, more than 20 pounds, and as a result everyone seems to comment about what a great football player he is going to be someday. And his first words, much to the dismay of his mama and nana, were dada. My mom (nana) caught it all on video. I’ll have to post an Axel update after our 9-month appointment next week. ☺

It’s good to be back here after my recent hiatus, and I look forward to recommitting to my blogging from here on (as time allows, of course). With a busy summer of training, racing, and life ahead of us, there will be plenty to talk about!

This past weekend I had a true “how on earth did I do that” moment when I crossed the finish line at the Eugene Half Marathon. I was able to do the two things I had set out to accomplish when racing in my first half marathon postpartum: maintain a consistent pace throughout the race, and PR.

Justin, Axel, and I packed up and headed to Eugene late Saturday morning, making sure to time our departure so it would coincide with Axel’s nap. Little man was a trooper and slept the entire 2 ½ hour drive before waking up as we entered Eugene. It was our first out of town overnighter with him since he has been born and he traveled like a champ. I guess wanderlust must be in his blood.

Upon arrival to Eugene, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Steelhead Brewery, then headed to the expo for packet pickup. I love how the atmosphere around pickup really gets me fired up and shifts my mind into race mode. Maybe it’s all the nervous tension in the air. I did the obligatory find your name among the list of runners and then picked up my bib number and race shirt.

Unlike many packet pickups that are in exhibition halls, hotels, or even a local running store, this one took place in a big tent adjacent to Hayward Field. It was a pretty casual packet pickup with a jazz band playing on a stage they had set up for the weekend, and people out and about taking pictures and relaxing in the sunshine. Justin and I decided to check out the finish area on the Hayward Field track and figure out a strategy for meeting up after the race. I still can’t believe Steve Prefontaine ran on this very track. I was standing on and soon to be running on a little piece of history.

We checked into our hotel, the Holiday Inn Express, after leaving the expo area. It was the perfect place to stay for the race because it was located half a mile away from the start/finish area and the course passed directly in front of the hotel at mile 10. The mile 10 aid station was literally in the hotel parking lot. This was nice for Justin and Axel because they would have a place to hang out while I was running the first half of the race.

After unloading a massive amount of stuff – seriously, traveling with an 8-month old requires more gear than traveling with six adults – I went on a quick 1.5-mile shakeout run while Justin walked with Axel to Market of Choice to grab a few essentials (i.e., bananas, Gatorade, water). Later that evening we ordered takeout from Placido’s Italian restaurant, and had a nice family dinner of spaghetti and meatballs in the hotel room. We didn’t want to deal with all the crowds at all the restaurants on race-eve, especially with Axel being so unpredictable. I felt rested and relaxed all evening and we went to bed early.

Axel woke us up nice and early at 5am, just before the alarm went off. He’s been an early bird lately, but I guess that’s better than waking us up throughout the night. He actually didn’t make a peep all night despite the unfamiliar surroundings, and he slept soundly for almost 10 hours straight in the Pack-n-Play. We got up and went through the typical race morning routine → coffee (there was a Dutch Bros. in the hotel parking lot), figure out what to wear, banana + peanut butter, bathroom, relax, look at course, gather gear, leave. Justin also gave me a really sweet card that read, “Today is your day.” It came with a temporary tattoo that I felt needed to be worn. Maybe this needs to become permanent after the day I had. ☺

I studied an email I had received from my coach with his thoughts and strategy for my race. It contained information about some of my previous races, along with a predicted time for this race based on my recent 10k pace. He anticipated that I would run the race in a time of 1:36 (7:20 min/mile). He provided me a visual profile of the course, along with advice on how to pace properly at every mile. The goal was to not go out too hard, which I am notorious for doing, and to pace smart.

At 6:30am we left the hotel and walked to the start area, giving me enough time to use the porta potty and kiss my two guys goodbye before the race. It was 48 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. Perfect running conditions, in my opinion. I ventured up to Corral A and gathered with all of the runners as the National Anthem started. And then, just like that, we were off!

I must have repeated “not too fast, not too fast” in my mind a hundred times during the first two miles. Nice and easy. I settled into a comfortable pace, found a good rhythm in my breathing, and hit cruise control. Honestly, I had no idea if I was running too hard or not, but I was relaxed and felt good in the moment.

In addition to the fact that they take place in Track Town USA and finish on Hayward Field, the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon are popular because the courses are extremely fast and flat, with the exception of a few minor “hills” (I use “hills“ because these are nothing like the hills I have to tolerate in Bend). Spectators pretty much lined the entire course and it was an eclectic gathering of people. I came across bands, toga parties, cheerleaders, kids wanting high fives, grannies wearing tutus and a woman offering me a joint. Don’t worry; no marijuana was directly inhaled during this run (indirect contact is another story). I swear spectators alone make me a 10% faster runner.

After 6 miles I glanced at my Garmin and saw my pace. Wow. I had been holding a consistent 7:07 average pace and still felt like I was on cruise control, not slowing at all. When I came up on a hill at mile 9 I slowed a little, but found my groove again once I was up and over. This is also where I ate my GU Roctane. I guess it was time to rock!

I knew Justin and Axel would be waiting for me at mile 10, where the course routes in front of the hotel, so I kept envisioning seeing them and used that as my motivation to push a little harder. I was so happy to finally see them as I zipped on by. This is my waving while running look.

It wasn’t until mile 11 that I started to grasp the reality of how I was running. Still on cruise control, my pace hadn’t slowed at all and I came to the realization that I was going to finish this run strong. I wish I could have pushed a little harder at mile 12, but my shin started cramping and toes started to curl every time I wanted to speed up. It’s amazing how our bodies can sense that we are almost finished. The mind-body connection is fascinating. I tried to ignore the pain and pushed as hard as my body would let me, until I passed through the entrance to Hayward Field and onto the track, just as I had envisioned. As I came to the straightaway and saw the finish, a 1:34 was brightly staring my way. I teared up and charged forward those last 400m before stopping in complete awe and accepting my medal from a volunteer.

My official race time was 1:34:11, almost a 4 minute PR from my best time of 1:38:04 back in 2014. All I could think was, how did that just happen? No. Really. How did I just do that? I couldn’t wait to find Justin and Axel and tell them the good news. I finally tracked them down (they had some issues getting through the road closures) and, gave them a quick and elated race report. It was barely 8:30am when I finished so we made our way back to the hotel, packed everything up and loaded it into the car, and began to make our way back to Bend…just in time for Axel’s late morning nap. ☺

My running has come so far over the years. When I started this journey in Houston during grad school my half marathon pace was somewhere around 9:30 min/mile, which I was proud of at the time and rightfully so. Over the years that time has steadily decreased, and I never could have imagined then that I would be able to maintain a 7:10 min/mile pace for 5k, let alone for an entire half marathon or longer.

Heck, even when Axel was born eight months ago a performance like this seemed so distant and unattainable. The female body is an amazing thing, and is capable of so much. I’m excited to see what I can accomplish going forward – especially when it comes to running off the bike during the last leg of my half- and full Ironman races this summer.

These past two weeks have been an absolute blur. Between an eruption of work that had to get done, doctor appointments, training, and taking care of Axel, I’m surprised I have enough left in me to write this post. It actually feels good to sit down, write, and give my blog some attention.

Work has consumed me the past several days with papers to be graded, an exam to prep, and emails that seem to pile up faster than I can respond. To get it all done, I had to set the alarm clock a little earlier than usual, and cut short or altogether skip a few of my workouts, but at least my mind was more at ease. Work has to be a priority before training when my students are relying on me for prompt feedback, I am working against deadlines, and emails filling up my inbox. At least I was able to push through and get all of my work done until the next round begins on Monday.

As a result, I came out of this week mentally exhausted. I handle physical fatigue a lot better than mental fatigue, so it’s been a rough go for me the past several days. On top of that, Axel has three top teeth coming in, so he’s been extra fussy and needy of late. Thankfully I was still able to break away here and there for some time outside. Most of my runs have been on the lighter side, as I am tapering for the Eugene Half Marathon, so it’s been a nice escape to get away for 30-45 minutes here and there. Nature calms the mind and soul.

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time you know that I have been seeing a physical therapist from time to time for some pelvis and lower back pain that are still lingering from pregnancy and childbirth. While my pelvis pain has pretty much disappeared, my back pain has gotten noticeably worse. It doesn’t hurt to run or bike, but swimming of all things really aggravates it. Any time I am laying on my stomach or back in a straight position, and then go to get up, I have a sharp/stabbing sensation that surges through by lower back, spine and glute region. It should come as no surprise that constantly having to pick up, set down, or carry a 20-pound baby doesn’t help either. I finally made an appointment with my primary care physician last week and found out I have a locked pelvis and inflammation in my fifth lumbar vertebra. The pelvis issue is causing one leg to sit slightly higher, creating a chain of events that create pain throughout my back, butt, and thighs.

I have now started seeing Dr. Terry Doi at NWX Chiropractic. I was a little hesitant about chiropractic work (I’m not a fan of popping and shifting body parts) but she instantly put my mind at ease and focused on deep tissue trigger point therapy (amazing), electric stimulation, and drop table. I felt some improvement after we were finished and am hoping that the benefits increase as I continue treatment. I will be seeing her 2-3 times a week until there is significant and consistent improvement. It’s tough because one of the major culprits of the pain is picking up and holding Axel throughout the day. I really don’t have a choice, but it constantly feels as though I am taking two steps forward and one step back when trying to manage the pain. At least he’s worth it.

Training has been hit or miss, but that’s okay. After my three-week build and half Ironman simulation, I was able to enjoy a recovery week last week and took full advantage of the down time. Don’t ever underestimate the power of good recovery. The weather around Bend has been erratic with a mixed bag of everything from thunderstorms and hail, to snow, wind, rain, and sunshine (sometimes all in the same day). If you go outside, you never know what you will get. Recovery weeks are easier when you don’t want to get nailed by marble sized hail.

I was able to get in a few easy rides, actually making it a point to go easy – which I struggle with. Because I train with power I can easily gauge my effort level at all times and not go overboard. When coach says “Finish your ride with an IF (intensity factor) of < 0.66, and stay away from hills” he means it! I do love the way he emphasizes the easy days. He knows me so well (my tendency to go too hard – that is). I’m learning to take active recovery days just as seriously as I do the high intensity, big workout days.

The Bend Marathon and Half was this past weekend. I had contemplated running it, as I ran the inaugural half last year when I was pregnant, but ultimately decided to wait a week and run the Eugene Half Marathon instead. There was something more tempting about running a flat course at sea level. Plus, the Eugene half finishes at the holy grail of running – with a lap around the track at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus. I plan on making my Olympic debut by sprinting as fast as I can to the finish. #Dreaming

I finally got a chance to meet and ride with Kayla, a friend I met through blogging and social media. We’ve been following each other for years and finally found an opportunity to connect. Kayla was in town with her family for the Bend Marathon, and brought her bike with her so we could go on a ride. She is also training for Ironman Coeur d’Alene (both the half and full like me) so I’m excited that I will get to see her again at future races. By the way – she kicked butt and finished in 1:30 at the Bend Half. Give me some of your running talent, please!!!

Justin and I are heading over Eugene today for tomorrow’s race! It will be our first out-of-town, overnight hotel experience with Axel. I’m really excited to see how he does with traveling. The weather is supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny tomorrow, although it will likely be 50 degrees while I am running, which is about perfect. My mindset going into this race will be – race smart. This will be my first half marathon postpartum, and although I would love to chase after a PR, I also want to finish feeling good and in control. Pace, pace, pace…

Anyone else racing this weekend?

Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did it help? I’d love to hear about your experience.

Right now I am writing this blog post while sitting outside in the sunshine, enjoying a glass of wine, while Justin is doing yard work and Axel is taking a nap. Hallelujah for baby monitors. This is probably the most relaxed I have been in a while – something about the quiet, the warm sunshine, and the cool breeze just feels so good in this moment, especially when the weather in Bend has been absolutely bipolar lately. On Thursday it snowed (!!!) and now here it is nearly 80 degrees on Sunday. Oh, the Jekyll and Hyde nature of our lovely Bend.

My first triathlon of the year is in 10 weeks. When I was pregnant with Axel and was 10 weeks from my due date, it felt like an eternity – all I wanted was to meet my son. But now, the weeks seem to be flying by faster than I can count them. We’ll be loading up the car and driving to Coeur d’Alene in no time. If you think triathletes travel with a lot of gear, imagine how much a triathlete traveling with an infant requires! I’m excited that there are a slew of athletes from Bend attending as well.

This past week was a positive reminder of how far I have come in this sport. Not just since having a baby seven months ago, but since I started my triathlon journey in 2014. This was the last week in my three-week build series, and it ended with a bang when I did a half ironman simulation on Saturday, followed by a 15 mile run on Sunday. This was my longest run postpartum and it felt great! A special shout out to my husband who tracked me down and brought me a cold Gatorade halfway into my run since the drinking fountains in Bend’s parks still haven’t been turned on for the spring/summer. He loves me.

I also did my longest swim EVER on Thursday, the full Ironman distance of 2.4 miles. And wow, was it a long swim. Thankfully I had my music and a variety of pool toys to keep me occupied. By the time I finished I had been in the water for 1 hour and 35 minutes, including rest breaks between sets and a little chit chatting with the many swimmers who were sharing my lane. It wasn’t necessarily a pretty swim (I don’t know how to swim pretty) but at least I now have one Ironman distance swim under my belt.

Now, onto the simulation…

On Saturday I joined Coach Mike and another one of his clients (also a friend), Adrian, for a half Ironman bike/run simulation. Essentially the plan was to bike 56 miles at goal pace, do a simulated T-2, and then run 3 miles at goal pace. Before we started, Mike gave me a target time of 2:50 on the bike and 8:30 min/mile on the run. I secretly wanted to do 2:45 on the bike, which was my time when I did Lake Stevens 70.3 in 2014.

The bike went better than I could have expected and I completed the 56 miles in 2:37 (including stops and yielding for traffic) with plenty of gas still left in the tank. As we approached the 56-mile mark, I looked at my watch and started screaming sounds of joy into the air. You would have thought I won the Tour de France. This may be fast for some and slow for others, but for me it was perfection. I don’t like using the word perfect, but it truly was a fulfilling moment. It was months of hard work coming to fruition. It was a reflection of my time away from Justin, Axel, and my home. It was a testament to all the grueling hours I had invested in my trainer rides over the winter. And that was part one…

Once we finished our bike leg, Mike and I took off on the run. Mike’s son Luke (an eleven year old athletic carbon copy of his father) ran with and paced Adrian. Originally the plan was to run 3.5 miles at an 8:30min/mile pace, but as soon as we got going we were both feeling good and decided to push it. We ended up running a 10k averaging 7:25min/mile. This is unheard of for me. I was breathing hard and could “feel” each step, but I pushed forward keeping pace with Mike. When we arrived back to his house, I collapsed on the grass with tears of joy welling up in my eyes. I did not know I had that in me. Self-discovery is a beautiful thing.

What I have been learning is that I don’t need to be in a race environment to recognize and appreciate hard work. Yes, it is nice to PR and give it my all during a race so everyone can see a number posted on a website or in the newspaper, but quite frankly it’s also nice to see those numbers being executed behind the scenes when no one else is looking. Even if I never bike a 2:37 in a race, it doesn’t mean I can’t. Because I can. And I have. I don’t need a race to prove anything. Thankfully though, races make it a bit easier to reach those milestones – adrenaline, camaraderie, competition, aid stations, spectators – it’s all there to bring out the best in an athlete.

This was a big mental week for me more than anything and a lot of goals/ambitions came to fruition after I accomplished some pretty big high points in my training. Right now I feel like my biking and running are really starting to click together as a single unit. Running off the bike used to be a real struggle for me, but lately it has felt natural.

When I started this Ironman journey in January, my goal was to get back in shape, have fun, and chase my dream of crossing the finish line after 140.6 miles in CdA. Training for my first Ironman, after having a baby, was a big enough goal that I did not need to put additional pressure on myself to perform to some “standard.”

Although I still have a similar mindset, something is happening in my training that I did not expect – I am surpassing my goals and finding a new kind of strength in my body and mind that I did not have in years past. I’m discovering a new side to “me” as an athlete, perhaps brought out in part by the miracle and accomplishment of pregnancy and childbirth, and am building confidence with each passing week. And most importantly, I am really enjoying myself and having fun. I am fortunate enough to have an hour or two each day to myself, and I actively choose to train hard and make this a priority in my life. Doing this each day makes me feel alive and brings out the best in me.

I love this sport. I love the fact that one can experience highs and lows in a matter of minutes, even seconds. Where pain and elation can be felt simultaneously. Where you, the athlete, completely control your own destiny. Where at the end of the day, everyone finishes what he or she has started, no matter the speed, obstacles, setbacks, or circumstances. Because hey, we’re all in it together, doing something we love.

I’m looking forward to the recovery week ahead and taking it easy on the bike and run. It’s never easy in the pool. ☺

Although I don’t typically like (or recommend) racing on back-to-back weekends, I couldn’t resist signing up for one of my local favorites this past Sunday – the Salmon Run 10k. Like last week, I treated the race as part of my training and did not taper or rest before the race. Instead, I had another big week of training and went into the race fairly fatigued – just as my coach and I had planned. I knew it was going to be an interesting morning when I found myself huffing and puffing when walking up the stairs in our house!

They staggered the start of the half marathon, 10k, and 5k, which is nice because this is one of the bigger races in town and the staggered start spreads people out and avoids a huge cluster of runners in the beginning. When the gun went off for my 9:15am start, Justin, Axel, and my mom were there to support and cheer me on, which I always appreciate. I got to see them at the start, mile 4, and at the finish. There is something mentally energizing about knowing my family is out there taking the time to stand around so that they can cheer me on for just a few seconds as I fly by on the course. Spectators and sherpas really ARE amazing.

The course starts flat along the Deschutes River, ascends up a monster hill, descends a little more gradually, and then remains fairly flat (again along the river) until the last mile where you come upon a series of rollers.

My body and legs handled the speed and course a little better than I thought they would, although I had a discouraging pain in my diaphragm region the ENTIRE run. Ever since I started running again after pregnancy, I randomly experience side stitches and diaphragm pain that comes and goes. I need to find some stretches and exercises that might help with this.

I ended up finishing second woman overall and earned a spot on the podium next to another mom who finished first. We actually talked and hung out after the race, along with our families, and learned that we had also been on the podium (in first and second place) at the Sunriver Half Marathon three years ago. She was incredibly nice and we exchanged contact info so we could meet up for a stroller run (or solo run) in the future. And wouldn’t you know, she lives right down the street from me. Small world!

I’m looking forward to focusing on my training for a few weeks before my next big race – the Eugene Half Marathon on May 1. Racing can be fairly hard on the body and typically requires a longer recovery period, therefore I “try” to be smart about how often I do it.

Leading up to my race on Sunday, I had another killer week of training. On Tuesday and Thursday I spent some quality time in the pool, which has become noticeably more crowded as the weather has warmed up. It must be triathlon season? Both of my swim sessions were followed by a run. I took it fairly easy on Tuesday with the running, but had a nice track workout on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday I spent a lot of time on my bike and added some good mileage to my legs. For some reason I have really been feeling it lately on the bike, and have seen a lot of improvement in a short period of time. I feel as though I am biking better and stronger than I ever have before – and I still have a lot of room to progress and get stronger which excites me! Running has always been “my sport” but for some reason biking just feels right lately. I love it.

It probably helps that the weather around Bend has been great for cycling. Not too hot. Not too cold. Not too windy, but still a nice breeze. I’m really crossing my fingers that spring is finally here and the nice weather sticks around for the long haul.

Last week was a huge training week for me, and one that was capped off by a satisfying performance at the Horse Butte 10-miler race on Sunday. Particularly in light of my training volume in the days leading up to the race.

I typically like to taper for any race longer than a 10k so my legs and body feel fresh and rested. But this week my coach thought it would be good for me to race under fatigue to see how I would respond after a solid build week including a 75-mile ride the day before the race. Because I wasn’t trying to break any records or PR at this race, I thought this plan would be a great way to gauge my fitness under fatigue. I mean, I am going to have to run a marathon after a 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike, so I might as well as get used to this.

The race started at 9am on a picture perfect day. Typically the weather can be pretty ugly this time of year, so all the runners really lucked out. I arrived at the Horse Butte parking area with enough time to park, do a quick warm-up, use the porta potty, and line up in position. Before I knew it the horn ripped through the air and we were off!

Aside from the first quarter mile, the entire run is on singletrack trail. This means you have to line up very strategically and be smart about where you position yourself in the line of other runners. For the most part I settled in well and only had to venture off trail a few times to pass people.

My husband came out with Axel to cheer me on at the halfway point – also the location of the only aid station. We just bought a fancy new camera and are still figuring out how to use it, so this was the only picture he captured that wasn’t blurry or out of focus. At least you can see the mountains and scenery. It was so gorgeous out there. It’s actually probably a good thing you can’t see my face because I was in pain this point (the first half of the run is primarily uphill) and there wasn’t a lot of smiling taking place. I barely even acknowledged Justin and Axel as I ran by them, but I knew they were there and certainly appreciated their support.

I finished the race in a time of 1:18:25 with a 7:52 average pace. I was pleased with the result given the difficulty of the course, single-track terrain, and fatigue I was operating under. Instead of medals they gave all the finishers a mini growler to fill from the keg of beer (or water). You know you’re in Bend when…

Leading up to the race I had a pretty terrific week of training. On Tuesday I swam 3500m which was my longest swim EVER, followed by a track session that included eight 1-minute intervals at VO2 max.

On Wednesday the weather was perfect for a ride outside so I tested out my new SOAS team kit and did a 2-hour ride on my tri bike. It was a glorious day.

Thursday was even nicer and temperatures were easily in the low 70s. After my morning swim I went out to the trails and did hill repeats on an old forest service road. I felt really strong and committed throughout the run, soaking up as much sunshine and blue sky as I could in the process. As I posted on Instagram, I felt pretty excited about finishing my hill repeats.

On Friday, Justin, Axel, and I went out to the little town of Sisters (about 30 minutes from Bend) so I could demo some road bikes. I’ve had my Trek Madone for a few years now and am finally ready to upgrade to a more advanced bike, especially if I’m going to do a few road races like my coach wants me to. I tested out two different Specialized bikes – the Tarmac and Roubaix – while Justin and Axel cruised around in the Bob.

My goal is to purchase a new bike within the next month before I potentially – GASP – do my first bike race. I really want electronic shifting and disc brakes, which seems to be where road bike technology is headed, so we’ll see what I end up with.

After testing out bikes we enjoyed the sunshine and took Axel to the park before heading back home.

On Saturday, the day before my race, my coach invited me on a group ride with a few other guys. I always try to take advantage of these opportunities because group rides generally push me to work harder (especially when I feel like I have something to prove to five other guys), make the time go by faster, and allow me to converse with and learn from other athletes. Group rides are the way to go when doing longer distance rides. We ended up doing 75-miles with some tough climbing near the end. Nothing like finishing with a nice climb! The experience was great, even if my legs were completely fried before the race as a result.

All in all, I’d say things are going well on the training front. I have another race this weekend – the Salmon Run 10k – on top of another busy training week. My next big “A” race is in three weeks at the Eugene Half Marathon, where I’m hoping for a PR!

Have you ever raced without tapering or while completely fatigued?

Have you ever received something other than a medal for finishing a race?

Once I jumped full swing into triathlon training I started noticing that my stuff was everywhere. No matter what room you walk into – kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, laundry room, closet, office – you will find some kind of training equipment, tool, clothing, or accessory. After a couple months, I finally started to feel bad for my husband. After all, he doesn’t leave his golf clubs in the bedroom, or his fly fishing gear in the kitchen. I know he would never say anything, no matter what he thought of the cluttered chaos, but he didn’t have to say a word for me to recognize the problem.

I decided enough is enough and asked my husband if we could transform our coat/wine closet into my triathlon closet. Of course, we would keep the wine in there as well. Why not combine two things I love into an adult sized cubbyhole? Once Justin said yes (it did not take my convincing) I was on a mission to get organized. The closet itself needed a little TLC anyway.

Justin had a great idea to get a shoe organizer for the door to store all my little gadgets and accessories. All of my arm warmers, gloves, sunglasses, swim goggles, electronic devices, and power cords/chargers now have their own little sleeve.

Best of all, now all of my triathlon gear and accessories are in one place, aside from my running attire and sports bras, which are stored in our dresser. And my trainer, which is in the bonus room. And my bikes, which are appropriately stored in the garage. I already feel like the house is cleaner, less cluttered, and our closet now has room for other things (like maybe a new spring wardrobe!). Every time I go to get something out of my triathlon closet, it makes me smile.

In other news, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be an ambassador for SOAS Racing for another year. I was part of the team last year, but did not get a chance to race in my team gear because I was pregnant. This year I am really looking forward to connecting with some of the girls on the team and cheering them on both near and far!

I just received my team gear last week and can’t express how excited I am about the style and colors. Obsessed might be the word I am looking for. Blue is one of my favorite colors and I love the different shades in each piece of clothing. I’ll be proudly wearing these pieces throughout the year as I train and race.

To share my excitement for how much I love this brand, I want to give away a sports bra to two lucky readers! I wore SOAS sports bras and run shorts all the way through my pregnancy and can’t rave about them enough. The sports bras are the best I have ever worn and have a small pocket for holding GUs, keys, or whatever else you might carry on a run.

Want to own a SOAS racing sports bra? Just enter below by leaving a comment telling me which design is your favorite and why. You will need to visit the SOAS racing website by clicking HERE. You can also enter by following SOAS Racing on Instagram and/or by following me on Instagram. Use the Rafflecopter below! The giveaway will end on Sunday, April 10, and two winners will be selected at random and notified by email. This post was not sponsored and all of these opinions are my own.

Last week turned into a mega recovery week when, just as I thought I was almost in the clear for getting sick this year, I came down with a sore throat early in the week and had to take a few days off to rest and recover. At least it only lasted 48 hours and didn’t turn into a stuffy nose, cough, and congestion type of situation. Sore throats tend to be my nemesis because they completely kill my appetite. The only thing I ate was frozen yogurt and homemade chicken noodle soup. At least the weather was crappy.

It was still a fairly adventurous week of training and I did a couple things out of my typical routine. Plus, when you get an amazing surprise in the mail from a fellow blogger and reader, you rediscover your motivation pretty quickly. Thank you Luisa for the wonderful gift and thoughtfulness. These words mean so much and I hope to thank you someday in person!

Monday: Sick with a sore throat. Axel kept me plenty busy though.

Tuesday: Decided to play it safe and take another sick day. My throat was still bothering me, although it felt better as the day progressed. By the end of the day, I was feeling pretty good.

Wednesday: Woke up feeling recharged and back to my normal self. I met up with my coach at his house (he lives a few blocks away from me) and did my first virtual race on Zwift. It was a pretty awesome experience that would have only been better if Mike and I hadn’t been chit chatting and missed the start of the race. But we got started (better late than never) and eventually caught back up to the group after overexerting ourselves for over 30 minutes. I have never been pushed that hard on a trainer and couldn’t imagine doing so without that type of environment. The race lasted about an hour and twenty minutes. I also reached a new FTP of 221!

Thursday: I started the day with a 2050m swim in the 50m pool. Sadly, this was my only swim of the week and it was a short one at that. This is the last week where swimming gets put on the back burner. I refuse to drown at Ironman CdA. It’s amazing how different it feels swimming in a 50m pool.

After my swim I made the official maiden voyage in my new Hokas and went out for a short 3.66 mile run around the neighborhood. It only took a few strides for me to fall in love. They were light, cushy, and felt completely different than my Brooks. I can’t wait to do some longer runs in them to see how my body responds. Keeper!!!

Friday: I had an awesome opportunity to be part of a shoe study for Newton shoes. Ever wonder how shoes make it to the market and how prototype shoes are tested? Well, I got to find out! The REP Lab at Rebound Physical Therapy has a really fancy force plate instrumented treadmill (there are only three of them in the United States) that captures data as you run. The shoe company’s contract with these specific labs and treadmills to compare side-by-side biometric data as athletes run in different shoes.

This particular Newton Shoes study involved testing a prototype shoe that may or may not end up making it to the stores based on feedback from participants like myself. I started with a 2 mile warm-up in my own shoes and then proceeded to run on the fancy treadmill in five different pairs of shoes (New Balance, Hoka One, Brooks Adrenaline, Newton Gravity, and the prototype) for 2 ½ – 5 minutes at a fairly fast pace in each. Then, I was done!

After the study is complete, Newton examines the data and how runners respond to different types of shoes. Pretty cool, eh?

This was the only running I did on Friday, but I was fine with that. I didn’t have a lot of time and I ran pretty hard (harder than I thought I was going to have to run) during the testing process.

Saturday: I was really hoping to ride outside in the afternoon, but the weather was windy and cold, and generally uncooperative. Not a good combo. After taking a little family trip to Petersen Rock Garden and my old stomping grounds where I grew up, I finally made it on the trainer for a late afternoon 40-mile ride. I was not thrilled, but got the work done. Thank goodness for protein waffles with peanut butter and maple syrup. These (and maybe a Cadbury Crème Egg) kept me energized for the entire 130 minutes.

Sunday: A little Easter run with my family. Because this was a “recovery week” I only had a 6-mile run on my schedule to round out the week! Axel, Justin, and I did a 3-mile loop around the Old Mill District and then I broke away and did another loop to finish up my mileage.

After we finished our run we hopped on over to REI so I could stock up on GUs, Bloks, and honey stingers. While we were there, we also checked out the baby carrier backpacks and ended up walking away with an awesome Osprey pack. Although it was only a matter of time before we bought one, nothing screams impulse buy like going shopping for some $2 energy products and walking out with a $250 baby carrier. At least we had our REI dividend, a 20 percent off coupon, and a $50 gift card to help soften the blow. Summer backpacking with Axel, here we come!

We spent the rest of the day dying Easter eggs, doing some chores around the house, eating a yummy Easter meal of ham and sweet potatoes, and watching our newest addiction on Netflix… The Killing.

Last week was a bit chaotic in my world due to grading and finals week. One of my classes is a writing intensive course and students turn in a 12-16 page paper at the end of the term. Multiply that by 20 students and you have yourself A LOT of reading. Thankfully I powered through and was able to get grades submitted this past weekend. Training got thrown off a little due to my work schedule, but I was still able to get in some quality workouts.

Monday: Physical rest day. Mentally, I worked my butt off grading for 12 hours straight! I’m not sure which is more exhausting!

Tuesday: Took a break from grading and jumped on the trainer for a solid 22 mile spin. As my coach likes to remind me, quality is better then quantity. Make it count.

Wednesday: Started the morning with a 2700m swim, followed by a 5.5 mile run. I was surprised to see my coach when I got to the pool and he told me to hop in and share the lane. My moderately planned workout magically became much more difficult as I tried to keep up. He also had me do a 400m and 200m swim test. Unexpectedly. That’s always fun.

After my swim I had a steep hill repeat run on my schedule, so I drove to Pilot Butte (which has a 6%-10% grade) and did hill repeats for 45 minutes. The temperature was perfect and I even got my vitamin D fix for the day.

Thursday: I took the day off to grade. Once again, I worked the mental muscle.

Friday: In the midst of March Madness and grading, I jumped on the trainer for 90 minutes and rode the new Mountain Segment on Zwift. It was a killer workout.

Saturday: We were blessed with some sunshine and windless (this is a big deal) weather, so I met up with my friend Nicole and got in a good ride OUTSIDE! Although it was pretty chilly when we started (43 degrees), I warmed up quickly. I rode with Nicole for a couple hours before setting out on my own for an hour to finish my 50-mile ride. Nicole was doing a 60-mile race the next day, so she didn’t want to go overboard.

Sunday: I finished the week with a great 9-mile run that combined fartleks and race pace intervals. It felt really good to get in some speed and to hit all of my paces as planned.

After running, Justin, Axel, and I went to the pool to give Axel his first aquatic experience that didn’t involve a bathtub. Of course I had to get it on camera. Although he was really happy in the water, he seemed to be more intrigued with everything going on around him. I really hope he takes after his dad in the pool (Justin is a good swimmer) and not his mom.

As you probably noticed, I haven’t spent much time in the pool (the day I went with Axel doesn’t count, unfortunately). This is not intentional, as I know I need to get my butt in the water more often, but rather a result of a busy week and lack of time. Out of the three sports, I find that swimming surprisingly takes A LOT of time. After driving to the pool, prepping and getting into the water, doing my swim (including small breaks between sets), getting out and showering, and then driving home, two hours have flown by. Just for a swim. Eventually I will need to factor this kind of time into my schedule, but right now I am just doing what I can. In a fantasy world, I would dig a hole in the backyard and put in a lap pool. Hmmm….. ☺

Which is more difficult to cope with – mental fatigue or physical fatigue? Why?

Any tips for saving time and being more efficient on swim days?

Who has a March Madness bracket? Who do you have winning it all? (I picked UNC)

Hi, I’m Kristen. Thank you for stopping by. Follow me along my journey of becoming a faster runner, endurance triathlete, and world traveler. I’ll also mix in a few random musings, open up about life, and share my adventures around my hometown of Bend, Oregon.

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